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Plane 'unairworthy' at time of crash

Wed 19 Jun 2013, 9:11 AM AEST

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation into the plane crash that killed former Bourke Mayor Wayne O'Mally last year has found the aircraft he was piloting was technically unairworthy.

The ATSB says on April 29 2012, Mr O'Mally was stock mustering north-east of Bourke, in calm and fine weather in a Cessna 150 when it aerodynamically stalled, crashing into the ground.

The final report into the crash says Mr O'Mally, didn't hold a valid medical certificate at the time of the crash and had not completed a flight review for a number of years, making him unauthorised to operate an aircraft.

The report also says it was estimated the plane was overdue for maintenance, making it technically unairworthy.

The ATSB says while neither factor was found to have contributed to the fatality, inattention to regulations weakens the systems in place to ensure the proper functioning of aircraft.